SO WHO’S A KLAVA BOY, THEN?

FROM FRONT PAGE Turf Moor. “I was never in doubt about the character of my boys,” he said. “I never thought we had a defensive problem or thought we needed an extra player, though Virgil will help us a lot. “You need character to win when you are not at your best and we had that today. A draw would have been a good result so to win was very impressive.” Klopp also praised Sadio Mane after the winger put aside his indifferent form to produce a stunning opener.

And he revealed his entire team clapped the African into the dressing room afterwards.

“Sadio is unbelievably important for us,” said Klopp. “He scores a goal like this and it is like ‘wow.’ He comes into the dressing room and the whole team gives him a hand.”

Klopp hinted that new signing Van Dijk is unlikely to make his debut in the FA Cup derby with Everton on Friday night, which means he could make his bow against leaders Manchester City in a fortnight.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche (left) put a brave face on a heartbreaking defeat.

“I have to think where we are,” he said. “We are on 34 points and we were second favourites to go down.

“Of course we are disappointed to lose like that, but I can’t forget where we are and what we have achieved.

“It’s about us progressing and maturing and we are doing that.”